Deal struck in CalMac dispute

Talks on pay had broken down on several occasions

Union members have voted to accept an improved pay offer from ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne.

The Rail, Maritime and Transport union voted 208 to 50 to accept the revised two-year offer.

The deal amounts to a 3% increase on basic rates this year with a one-off 1.5% payment for moving to monthly pay.

And in year two there will be an increase on basic rates equivalent to the increase in inflation plus a further one-off 1.5% payment.

War of words

"RMT members have now spoken and their verdict is a very clear one," RMT general secretary Bob Crow said, welcoming the result of the ballot counted in London.

RMT shipping secretary Steve Todd said: "Our members have had the final say and I hope we can now get relations with the company back onto a more sensible footing.

"We need to ensure in future we are not kept waiting for months for an offer only then to have attempts to bump us into accepting a sub-standard deal."

The truce follows an angry war of words which erupted after unions accused the ferry company of reneging on an earlier deal.

We now have to work together to secure our future or there's a danger we may not have a future Hugh Dan MacLennan CalMac

CalMac claimed no agreement had ever been reached and accused the union of misleading the media - prompting Mr Crow to brand the firm "dishonourable".

The RMT, which represents 450 of the company's crew and terminal staff on the Clyde and in the Western Isles, had threatened to hold strike ballots if the dispute was not resolved.

Hugh Dan MacLennan, of CalMac, said the 1.5% one-off payments were dependent on staff punctuality and said it was now time to get back to business.

"We are pleased that this fair and reasonable offer has been accepted," he said.

"We now have to work together to secure our future or there's a danger we may not have a future.

"We're not interested in point scoring, the important thing is the deal has been agreed, now let's get on with it."